Saturday, May 31, 2014

June 1st is City Daily Photo Theme Day and this month's challenge is ZEST.

Few people have more ZEST than my husband's physiotherapists. They take their jobs seriously but have fun doing it.

Did you know that May was Physiotherapy Month? I probably wouldn't know either if my husband were not still a patient at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket. Last week the physiotherapists there celebrated with an open house in the third-floor gym, inviting hospital workers and visitors to check out what they do.

I won't show you photos of the patients but here are some visitors:

Invited to swim at the open house

The hospital pool was part of the open house too. At the shallow end, nine rubber duckies and one rubber frog were allowed to float in a small roped-in area. How could you NOT feel happy seeing these enthusiastic swimmers?

The pony was somewhat curious about me but not enough to move closer and check me out, so I had to zoom in with my point and shoot. Maybe next time? I know the owners but I was in too much of a rush to move in closer.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

It was such a pretty morning on my way to Newmarket yesterday, I took a slightly different route and happened upon these ponies totally unaware that they and the fence behind them were a photo op for today's Good Fences.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

This old barn and silo must have been a beauty in its day but now it's slowly falling apart.

Taken from a little farther away

I would have loved to have taken a photo from a slightly different angle but there are several no trespassing signs so I was not able to, otherwise I might have sneaked up the driveway a short way. From this angle I had to shoot over distracting shrubs.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Yes, tulips are still blooming in my gardens. I know we in central Canada are WAY behind most of the rest of you garden-wise, but I still have these (just barely) blooming in my gardens. What would spring be like without tulips? The idea boggles my mind.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

A goldfinch pair is often at our sunflower feeder. They always know when the feeder has been refilled so I suspect they hide out in one of our spruce trees. The female seems to be wondering "Are you looking at me?" Or perhaps she dropped a seed and is watching it fall.

Male goldfinch

The male here is hanging on to the wire above the feeder, a seed in his mouth.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

I pass this fencing on my way to Newmarket every day. It's still rural here but just barely. To the west is a major south-north highway that is expanding its reach north from Toronto, bringing with it urbanization and suburbanization.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Today is Victoria Day, the day we here officially remember Queen Victoria. As you can see, a few trees are leafing out, but this holiday weekend has been quite cool. Traditionally many gardeners in central Ontario celebrate Queen Victoria's remembrance by planting annuals in their gardens. But NOT this year! At least for me! It's still too cold.

Hellebore in my garden

Hellebores are perennials, though, so they are OK with this year's cooler weather .

Monday, May 12, 2014

My husband is still in hospital - it has been nearly nine weeks - but some of the staff at Southlake in Newmarket have made my husband's stay quite nice.

Jane is a special member of the staff. So far I have never seen Jane grumpy even though some patients are slobs messy and it's Jane's job to keep their room's spic and span. Plus if a patient wants an extra pillow (or just about anything else in the supply closet), it's Jane who cheerfully fetches it.

But Jane topped herself on Friday when, for no special reason - except that she felt like it - she brought from home a teapot and some teacups to serve tea to her patients and their guests.

Jane

Thanks, Jane!

FYI: This would have been a better photo if I had engaged the flash on my camera